Observant

Papers on Observant

68,782 papers3,623 new in 30 days

Saturday, November 7

AHA Scientific Sessions 2026 Abstract

Gene therapy extended life in mice with inherited heart disease

Among male mice, 69% given gene therapy were alive at 270 days, while controls had a median survival of 197 days.Among male mice, 69% given gene therapy were alive at 270 days, while controls had a median survival of 197 days.

Heart cross-sections beside mice contrast thick dark blue-green walls and broad muscle fibers with thin gray walls and narrower fibers.
Mouse studyInterventions
AHA Scientific Sessions 2026 Abstract

Blood sugar drugs linked to fewer heart and blood vessel events

At one year, users had a lower relative rate of major heart and blood vessel events than nonusers, with a hazard ratio of 0.40.At one year, users had a lower relative rate of major heart and blood vessel events than nonusers, with a hazard ratio of 0.40.

A whole heart beside a molecular chain and scarred kidney contrasts with a smaller damaged heart above an intact kidney.
Cohort studyInterventions
AHA Scientific Sessions 2026 Abstract

Certain weight-loss drugs linked to lower dementia risk

At 10 years, users without diabetes had lower dementia risk than multivitamin users (relative risk 0.17) and phentermine users (0.64).At 10 years, users without diabetes had lower dementia risk than multivitamin users (relative risk 0.17) and phentermine users (0.64).

Brains above small faceless groups contrast broad dark blue-green folds with thinner gray folds, with smaller brains clustered beside the figures.
Cohort · 57,066 peopleDementia
AHA Scientific Sessions 2026 Abstract

Closely timed diagnoses linked to higher heart failure risk

Over a median 15.3 years, heart failure occurred in 20.3% of adults with clustered diagnoses, compared with 6.2% whose obesity was diagnosed first.Over a median 15.3 years, heart failure occurred in 20.3% of adults with clustered diagnoses, compared with 6.2% whose obesity was diagnosed first.

A heart cross-section sits between dark blue-green figures with more enlarged hearts and gray figures with mostly compact hearts.
Cohort · 72,361 peopleHeart failure
AHA Scientific Sessions 2026 Abstract

Poor sleep quality linked to more heart disease and stroke

Stroke prevalence was 4.6% among adults with poor sleep quality versus 2.6% among those with excellent sleep quality.Stroke prevalence was 4.6% among adults with poor sleep quality versus 2.6% among those with excellent sleep quality.

A heart with a narrowed artery beneath a rumpled pillow sits beside a smaller heart with open arteries beneath a smooth pillow.
Cross-sectional · 88,916 peopleStroke
AHA Scientific Sessions 2026 Abstract

Mouse model implicates vessel lining in inherited brain disease

Experiments compared mutant and control mice at 2 and 24 months, finding early changes in cells lining brain blood vessels.Experiments compared mutant and control mice at 2 and 24 months, finding early changes in cells lining brain blood vessels.

Brain blood vessels beside mice contrast a twisted, narrowed vessel with deposits and clustered inflammatory cells against a smooth, open vessel.
Mouse studyMechanisms
AHA Scientific Sessions 2026 Abstract

Higher heart health scores linked to lower risk after menopause

High scores were associated with 65% lower relative risk of cardiovascular events or cardiovascular death than low scores over 18.7 years.High scores were associated with 65% lower relative risk of cardiovascular events or cardiovascular death than low scores over 18.7 years.

A large heart with clear branching vessels and a smaller gray heart with dark vessel deposits sit beside separate groups of upright women.
Cohort · 18,453 peoplePopulations
AHA Scientific Sessions 2026 Abstract

Oral semaglutide linked to fewer heart attacks and strokes

Heart attacks occurred in 3.88% of oral semaglutide users versus 4.31% of injectable users over three years in matched medical-record cohorts.Heart attacks occurred in 3.88% of oral semaglutide users versus 4.31% of injectable users over three years in matched medical-record cohorts.

A cutaway heart and intact brain sit beside a smaller gray heart and brain with dark damaged patches, with groups of faceless people nearby.
Cohort studySemaglutide
AHA Scientific Sessions 2026 Abstract

Two obesity definitions identified different disease risk groups

The definitions disagreed for 17.5% of All of Us participants and 29.1% of UK Biobank participants, with different links to later disease.The definitions disagreed for 17.5% of All of Us participants and 29.1% of UK Biobank participants, with different links to later disease.

Groups of upright, faceless people stand beside a damaged heart, brain, and kidney, with smaller intact heart and kidney forms below.
Cohort studyObesity
AHA Scientific Sessions 2026 Abstract

Underweight linked to heart disease and death in adults

Underweight was linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular death, with a hazard ratio—a measure of relative risk—of 1.56 compared with normal weight.Underweight was linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular death, with a hazard ratio—a measure of relative risk—of 1.56 compared with normal weight.

A heart with damaged tissue beside a group of thin gray figures and intact tissue beside a group of fuller blue figures.
Cohort · 81,908 peopleUnderweight
AHA Scientific Sessions 2026 Abstract

Protein-based age measures differ by heart failure type

A retrospective comparison of 269 people with one heart failure form, 275 with another and 186 controls found different protein-based aging patterns.A retrospective comparison of 269 people with one heart failure form, 275 with another and 186 controls found different protein-based aging patterns.

A heart cutaway with enlarged chambers and thin walls sits beside smaller, thicker-walled hearts and scattered folded proteins.
Cohort studyHeart failure
AHA Scientific Sessions 2026 Abstract

Hispanic adults with heart failure had lower death risk

The relative rate of death over five years was lower among Hispanic adults than matched non-Hispanic White adults, with a hazard ratio of 0.846.The relative rate of death over five years was lower among Hispanic adults than matched non-Hispanic White adults, with a hazard ratio of 0.846.

A heart cross-section sits between groups of upright figures; the denser dark blue-green group has a brain with a larger damaged patch than the gray group.
Cohort studyHeart failure
AHA Scientific Sessions 2026 Abstract

Heart risk scores underestimated risk after cancer immunotherapy

Among patients rated low risk, heart attacks and strokes occurred at 8.0-fold and 6.5-fold the rates predicted by two standard calculators.Among patients rated low risk, heart attacks and strokes occurred at 8.0-fold and 6.5-fold the rates predicted by two standard calculators.

An opened artery narrows around fatty deposits and a dark clot, with blood cells crowded before the blockage and damaged patches on a nearby heart and brain.
Cohort · 23,727 peopleCancer
AHA Scientific Sessions 2026 Abstract

Heart scan analysis improved heart failure risk prediction

For 10-year heart failure prediction, a scan-based model scored 0.84 versus 0.72 for a clinical score in distinguishing future cases from people who remained unaffected.For 10-year heart failure prediction, a scan-based model scored 0.84 versus 0.72 for a clinical score in distinguishing future cases from people who remained unaffected.

Heart cross-section with open chambers and white flecks on nearby vessels, surrounded by smaller sections with varying chamber shapes.
Cohort · 4,182 peopleHeart failure
AHA Scientific Sessions 2026 Abstract

Heart, kidney and metabolic burden linked to later heart risk

An observational analysis of 2,968 CARDIA participants and 4,294 MESA participants linked accumulated burden to unfavorable heart structure and function and higher…An observational analysis of 2,968 CARDIA participants and 4,294 MESA participants linked accumulated burden to unfavorable heart structure and function and higher cardiovascular event risk.

A thick-walled heart section sits beside kidneys and enlarged fat cells, with a smaller, thinner-walled heart and sparse fat cells nearby.
AHA Scientific Sessions 2026 Abstract

Two drug classes linked to fewer heart failure flare-ups

Heart failure flare-ups had a hazard ratio—a relative risk measure—of 0.69 over one year with added drugs versus standard care alone.Heart failure flare-ups had a hazard ratio—a relative risk measure—of 0.69 over one year with added drugs versus standard care alone.

A cutaway heart surrounded by upright people and smaller hearts, with more dark patches on gray hearts than on dark blue-green hearts.
Cohort studyInterventions
AHA Scientific Sessions 2026 Abstract

Two immune proteins linked to later heart failure risk

An observational study of adults assessed at average ages 57 and 75 linked two anti-inflammatory blood proteins to later heart failure hospitalizations.An observational study of adults assessed at average ages 57 and 75 linked two anti-inflammatory blood proteins to later heart failure hospitalizations.

Heart cross-sections beside blood cells and proteins, with an enlarged dark blue-green heart near dense proteins and a smaller gray heart near sparse proteins.
Cohort studyHeart failure
AHA Scientific Sessions 2026 Abstract

Oral semaglutide linked to fewer heart failure events

Heart failure events or death occurred in 6.1% of oral semaglutide users versus 8.9% of sitagliptin users over one year.Heart failure events or death occurred in 6.1% of oral semaglutide users versus 8.9% of sitagliptin users over one year.

A large dark blue-green heart cross-section has a few fluid droplets beneath it; a smaller gray heart is surrounded by more droplets.
Cohort studySemaglutide
AHA Scientific Sessions 2026 Abstract

Drug use linked to better survival in a form of heart failure

At 60 months, survival was 83.5% among users of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, versus 57.4% among matched nonusers.At 60 months, survival was 83.5% among users of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, versus 57.4% among matched nonusers.

Heart cross-section beneath a larger group of blue-gray figures beside a molecular chain and a smaller group of gray figures.
Cohort studyPopulations
AHA Scientific Sessions 2026 Abstract

Genetic analysis links a blood fat particle to 60 proteins

Among 28,949 UK Biobank participants without cardiovascular disease, genetic analysis linked a fat-carrying particle to 60 proteins associated with artery disease or…Among 28,949 UK Biobank participants without cardiovascular disease, genetic analysis linked a fat-carrying particle to 60 proteins associated with artery disease or heart-valve narrowing.

A blood fat particle wrapped in a dark protein chain sits beside folded proteins, a plaque-narrowed artery, and a valve with calcium deposits.
Mendelian randomization · 28,949 peopleMechanisms